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A. E. RIDER. HITGHING POST.

" (No Model.)

Patented Aug. 2'7, 1889.

7 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

ADAM E. RIDER, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

HITCHlNG -POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,025, dated August 2'7, 1889.

Application filed January 17, 1889. Serial No. 296,585. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM E. RIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching-Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of hitching-posts for tethering animals in which a vertical rod or stake is adapted to be shifted to a properly limited extent into and out of a tubular or other holder located below the surface of the ground, and to be held elevated therein when in use and dropped out of the way into the holder when not in use.

My invention has, primarily, for its objects to provide for adjusting the connections of the holder through which the vertical stake is moved on elevating it or returning it to its normal position within the holder, so that the stake mayalways have a substantial support in said connections, and that the detent-spring which holds it in an elevated position may be made to catch accurately in a locked position, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

My invention further has for its objects to provide for accurately setting the device in position in connection with the pavement and for restoring the parts to their proper relative positions when they become disarranged, either from the contraction, expansion, or wear of the said parts, or from any disturbance of the pavement or bed below in which the holder maybe located, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

the tethering-stake down or inserted in the holder. Fig. 3 represents a detailed enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the parts of the device, showing the stake in an elevated position; and Fig. 4 represents an elevation of a portion of the tetheringstake detached, showing the detent-spring thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates a tubular or other shaped holder constructed of suitable material, of proper length anddiameter, and having its lower end closed by a screw-plug or other device. The upper end of the said tube is externally screwthreaded and is fitted with an externallyscrew-threaded coupling-sleeve C, the lower end of which oversets the screwthreaded end of the said tube. Within the upper end of the said coupling-sleeve is fitted a sleeve D, screw-threaded externally and provided with a flange E on its upper end, this flange having polygonal faces on its periphery, to which a suitable key or wrench may be applied to screw it into its seatvtithin the coupling-sleeve.

The said sleeve D is nternally screw-threaded at its upper end, and within it is fitted or tapped the lower end of an externally-screwthreaded sleeve G, which has on its upper end a polygonal or other shaped flange H, to which a. wrench or key may be applied for setting and adjusting it to its seat. The upper end of said sleeve G is provided with a recess for the reception of an elastic washer I, which serves as a buffer for the flange at the upper end of the tethering-stake, and also as a packing to prevent the entrance of water to the holder.

The letter L indicates the flange at the upper end of the sliding stake, which latter is indicated by the letter M. The said stake consists of a vertical bar, preferably tubular, having a shoulder or flange N at its lower end and a longitudinal recess on oneside, in which is fitted a detent-spring P, by which the stake is held when elevated, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the lower edge of the said detent-spring catching against the upper edge of the sleeve G for the purpose.

It will be seen that as thus constructed, when the parts of the device are in the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the detentspring catchingon the upper end of the upper sleeve will be engaged, thereby holding the stake in a properly elevated position, while the flanged end of the post M will engage the inner ICO or lower end of the intermediate sleeve D, as shown in Fig, 3, holding the stake firmly in its vertical position. Should the parts hecome loosened by wear or otherwise, it is only necessary to adjust the upper sleeve so as to preserve the relative distances between the spring-detent and the flange on the lower end of the stake-bar to securely hold said bar in its vertical position.

In setting the device in the ground it will be evident that the coupling-sleeve, the inserted sleeve therein, and the upper sleeve working in said inserted sleeve will permitthe device to be applied to a pavement of any thickness, and as the sleeves are mutually adjustable will permit the device to be easily regulated to conform to any changes in the surface or bed of the pavement.

Although I prefer to arrange the parts, as shown in Fig. 3, with the flange N constructed to abut against the lower edge of the intermediate sleeve D, the said flange may be made to abut against the lower edge of the upper sleeve G,as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, without departing from my invention.-

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a hitching-post, of a tubular holder adapted to be buried in the ground below the pavement, a couplingsleeve secured to the upper end thereof, the flangedsleeves secured one within the other, the lower one being secured to the coupling-sleeve, and the vertically-movable stake having a spring-detent at one side and a flange at the lower end to hold the stake when elevated, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a hitching-post, of a tubular holder adapted to be secured in the ground below the pavement, a coupling-sleeve secured to the upper end of said holder, an intermediate sleeve secured in said coupling sleeve, a flanged sleeve secured in said intermediate sleeve, and a vertically-movable stake provided with a detent-spring at one side and a flange at its lower end, the spring and flange being adapted to engage, respectively, the upper and intermediate sleeveconnections, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADAM E. RIDER.

WVitnesses:

O. D. DAVIS, CHAS. D. Josr. 

